In spite of brain tumour history, ITI professor transferred out of Pune

Sep 13, 2012, 08:21 IST
|
Niranjan Medhekar

Wife and former colleagues from Aundh ITI question transfer of ailing Professor to Baramati, say his condition is deteriorating fast; wife says repeated pleas to superiors fell on deaf ears.

Maruti Devkate (49), a professor at Malegaon Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Baramati, has been bedridden for the last three weeks at his residence in Sangvi.

Doctors suspect his brain tumour might have resurfaced. Despite his medical condition, Devkate was transferred to Malegaon from Aundh ITI. But within two months of his new posting, Devkate’s health deteriorated miserably and he was advised to take complete bed rest.

Keeping his present condition in mind, Devkate’s wife Sulbha and his former colleagues from Aundh ITI questioned his transfer. Sulbha even blamed his seniors for not putting in efforts to revoke Devkate’s transfer.

“My husband had requested the joint director to consider his illness before passing his transfer order. All his friends were confident that keeping his poor health in mind, his transfer would be revoked. But everything went wrong and seven years later, today he is once again suffering from the same illness,” Sulbha said.

Devkate was first diagnosed with brain tumour in 2005 following which he underwent a surgery to remove the tumour. After recuperating, he resumed work the same year and was doing well.

He received the transfer order on June 6 this year following which Devkate requested the concerned officer to consider his medical background and revoke the order, but to no avail. The day Devkate took to bed, he has been down with a severe headache and was put on brain tumour medication.

Devkate has 29 years of experience and before he was transferred to Malegaon ITI, he completed tenures in Karad, Pandharpur, Lonavla, Mumbai and Pune, where he was residing with his family.

Joint Director for Vocational Education and Training (Pune Region) Chandrakant Ninale said he was aware of Devkate’s medical history.

“I know that he was suffering from a brain tumour. But his transfer was due and I have done it as per government rules,” Ninale said. On asked why did he turned down Devkate’s request to revoke his transfer, Ninale said he had not received any such request from Devkate.

“When I finalised his transfer to Baramati his health was alright. He never requested me to cancel his transfer order,” Ninale said. Reacting to Ninale’s calims, Sulbah said her husband was transferred deliberately.

“My husband showed him marks the surgery had left on his scalp and requested him to revoke his transfer,” Sulbha said. The local wing of state’s employees association also blamed Ninale for Devkate’s transfer.

“Not only Devkate, but there are several such medical cases which Ninale did not consider. A government inquiry should be initiated against him,” Ravindra Jagtap, chairperson of the employees association, said.